Suction box



G. PEEBLES Feb. 10, 1931.

SUCTION BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. l2, 1926 GEORGE PEEBLE'S G. PEEBLES Feb.- l& 1931.

SUCTION BOX Filed Oct. 12, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwentoz. GEORGE PEEBLE (-3. PEEBLES Feb. 10, 193k.

SUGTI ON BOX Filed Oct. 12, 1926 3 Sheets-Sneak, 3

amva'nboz GEoRGE PEEISLES 35 l gu M Patented Febo 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE PEEBLES, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SEIJBEC, INQ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SUCTION BOX Application filed October 12, 1928. Serial No. 141,161.

This invention relates to vacuum or suction boxes employed in textile and paper and on which the pulp or fabric is conveyed said suction box being equipped with selfadjusting sealing means so as to permit of uniform suction throughout the length of the suction box and insure proper extraction of the moisture from the mass conveyed by the felt or wire.

Another object of my invention is to equip the vacuum or suction box in paper and textile making machinery with novel and improved top and end seals for the rollers over which the pulp or fabric is conveyed, the top seals being adapted for adjustment to accommodate varying width felts or wires said rollers operating in wood bearings extending throughout the length of the suction box and the top seals for said rollers being self-adjustable incident to any wear on the bearings.

A further object of my invention is to provide a vacuum or suction box for textile and paper making machinery including top and ing in wood bearings and the top seals being adjustable within narrow limits for varying width felts or wires, said rollers and end seals being removable as a unit from the suction box.

To enable others skilled in the art to more fully comprehend the underlying features of my invention that they may embody the same in a practical machine to perform the functions and obtain the desired results in a more advantageous manner, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is an end view showing the suction or vacuum box and the driving mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the suction or vacso uum box.

Fig. 3 is a top plan.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4:.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 77 of Fig. '5.

Fig. 8 is an end view of gearing for the rollers.

Fig. 9 is an end view of the opposite side of the suction box.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 5 denotes the standards or supports of a machine to which the brackets 6 may be attached by suitable bolts or in any other convenient manner for supporting the vacuum or suction box and its operating mechanism in its proper location for extracting the moisture from the material on a felt or wire pass ing thereover.

The suction box which is of considerable length comprises two sections 7, 8 bolted together at 9 in end to end relation forming a continuous trough 10 having closed ends 11 and threaded openings 12 for the pipes leading to the suction device or mechanism (not shown). The ends of the trough are provided with lateral extensions 13 being integral with the top which is wider than the main body portion and formed with a front and rear flange 14, 15. The suction box has communication with the space under the carrier or endless felt through slots or spaces 17 disposed between spacers 16. On the top of the trough and seated between the vertical spacers 16 and flanges 14, 15, there are provided wood bearings 18 and 19, preferably of lignum vitae which are in the form of parallel sealing blocks extending throughout the length, of the box and secured rigidly thereto by the bolts 20. The sealing blocks are adapted to receive the main hollow or solid rollers 21, 22 and forms therewith an air-tight and water tight fit in which the said rollers are maintained in perfect alignment, preserving their life and eliminating all adjustments between these parts. In order to insure the smooth and even operation of the rollers and particularly near the ends thereof by reason of their length, a restricted passage 230 through the top of the trough and sealing block is provided at each end whereby a small supply of water may be fed beneath the rollers but which is quickly withdrawn by the suction of the suction box.

The main rollers 21, 22 which are disposed on the same elevation and operate parallel to each other are constructed preferably of brass machined to a true surface. The ends of each roller are provided with shafts 23 rotatable in the extension bosses 24, 25 of vertically adjustable end sealing plate 26 and casting 27 respectively. The end sealing plate 26 is formed with vertical, elongated slots 28 for the passage of bolts 29 threaded into the end of the trough, said bolts being engaged by compression springs 30 permitting of slight adjustment of the ends of the main rollers to take up any wear that might possibly eccur between the same and the roller sealing blocks.

The casting 27 is similarly provided with elongated vertical slots 31 and connecting bolts 32 whereby it may also be adjusted vertically to retain the main rollers in horizontal alignment. The casting is formed integral with a yoke 33, said yoke having an' inner bearing boss 34 cooperating with an outer bearing boss 35 of the casting for supporting the shaft 36 on which the sprocket 37 and gear 38 are keyed, said gear 38 meshing with suitable spur gears 39, 40 on the ends of the main rollers, the sprocket 37 being driven by a suitable sprocket chain 38a from any suitable source of power on the machine proper.

At each end of the suction box and located in the top thereof in alignment with the central opening or slot therein, is provided an inverted T-shaped groove or passage, 41 for a longitudinally adjustable "block, T-shapecl in cross section and connected to an end sealing top bridge 42 by means of headed bolts 43. The bolts 43' extend within -vertical openings 44 and are further provided with springs 45 and retaining nuts 46 whereby the end sealing top bridge may be compressed and drawn down tightly over the inner, opposed surfaces of the main rollers as clearly shown by Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing. In this connection it will be noted that the top of the end sealing bridge is considerably wider than the portion extending within the groove or passage 41, the inner surfaces of said sealing bridge being machined to a smooth surface to provide a perfect seal with the surface of the main rollers with which it is in contact. The top sealing member 42 is provided with spaced transverse grooves its under surface to accommodate packing members which seat in similar grooves disposed in the upper face of the slide portion arranged in groove 41 as illustrated in F igures 4 and 6. The packing is used to complete the seal between the parts when the member 42 is adjusted inwardly from the end plate 27 The groove 41 also permits the end sealing top bridge to be adjusted at both ends of the suction box to accommodate various width felts or wires on which the material is being carried and which is subject to the suction. In the adjusting means shown by Fig. 4 for instance, an adjusting gear rack 43a secured by means of a threaded screw 44a cooperates with a meshing pinion 45a extending within the end casting or gear supporting bracket, the rotation of said pinion 450. by means of any suitable tool permitting the necessary adjustment of the bridge as desired. It is of course understood that the adjustment of the bridge is effected in the same manner and through the same mechanism located at each end of the suction box.

WVhile it is understood that where two surfaces are in constant contact there must be an appreciable wear on the parts, I have found that in the use of lignum vitae the roller sealing blocks and the end sealing top bridges is most suitable, producing a better seal for a longer period of time and permitting of finer adjustments. The wear on the parts is also reduced to a minimum, requiring little replacement. The uniform, constant seal at the ends of the suction box and main rollers by means of the springs tending to draw the sealing bridges downwardly in contact with the rollers avoids hand adjustments which causes the rollers to be out of true alignment. In other words, the self adjustment is equal at both ends. This adjustment, moreover is not affected by the longitudinal adjustment of the top seals for different width felts or wires.

It will be thus understood that while the wood bearings or sealing blocks in which the rollers operate are rigidly secured to the suction box, the end plate 26 and casting 27 may .be raised with the. rollers as a unit after the top seals 42 are removed, This may be desirable either in the replacement of a wood bearing or a roller. In any event I have discovered that the wood bearings and top seals when constructed of lignum vitae afford the best known means for effecting the above results particularly in a self-adjusting structure in which revolving rollers are mounted.

I claim:

1.- In a machine for extracting moisture from fibrous material in combination, a suction box, wood bearings of lignum vitae extending throughout the length and secured to the top of the suction box and rollers over which the fibrous material is conveyed rotatable in said bearings.

2. In a machine for extracting moisture signature. r

from fibrous material in combination, a suction box, wood bearings of lignum vitw extending throu bout the length and secured to the top of t e suction box and rollers over which the fibrous material is conveyed rotatable in said bearings, self-adjustin end supportin means for said rollers, sai last mentions end supporting means and rollers being removable as a unit from the suction 3. A suction box for textile and paper making machinery, as claimed in claim 2, in which the self-adjustin and supportin means comprises vertica y adjustable an removable end plates for revolubly supporting the rollers.

4. In a suction box for textile and pa r making machinery the combination 0 a trough, rollers over which a fabric or pulp carrier travels, blocks between the rollers and the trough having grooves in which the roll- .ers revolve and extending throughoutthe length of the trou h to form seahn means and bearings for tie rollers with si e walls projecting tangentially with respect to the innermost peripheral points of the rollers, and self-adjusting sealing means at opEosite ends of the rollers comprising bloc s having grooves concentric with the peripheral surfaces of adjacent rollers from points above the turning axes thereof and having side walls projecting downwardly tangentialg with respect to the innermost peri her points of the rollers and coincident with the said side walls of the first mentioned blocks. 5. In a suction box for textile and pa r making machinery, the combination to a trough, rollers over which a fabric or pulp carrier travels, sealing means forming bearings for the rollers between the latter and the trough and extending throughout the length of the said trough, self-ad'usting sealing means at opposite ends of an pressing downwardly on the rollers, and means for relatively adjusting the end sealin means longitudinally of the trou h and rolfi ers to accommodate varying wi ths of car- IIBIS.

' In testimony whereof he has aflixed his GEORGE PEEBLES. 

